As the party approaches of Xantharl's Keep they can see that it is a fortified village with gates that are shut. "Have you been to this keep before? If so, were there any troubles the last time?" D.O.R.K. asks Harshnag

"Yes I've been here several times and there's never been any troubles when I've been around" he replies with a self-effacing grin. "The commander Narbeck is a bit of a stickler for rules, being a dwarf and all -  but still he's not a bad sort. Arzastra's  beer down at the 'The Falling Orc' always go down well. And the potatoes dish at The Bear and Black Buckler is known throughout the north."

"The wise shut their gates against troubles roaming the lands. A fool runs about all day and night, oblivious to the dangers around him." Ilezenya speaks aloud, as if quoting some ancient wisdom. 

"These are trying times but I hope you are right Harshnag. A beer and potato dish would be a nice change from hard tack and goodberries.  Let us hope he gates are closed out of caution and not necessity."

Devin approaches scanning the walls for guards. 

Mullo is quiet and severe as they approach the Keep, but her eyes take in the fortifications with what might be interest ... or a challenge ... or disgust. It's hard to tell. "Will we need to present this dwarf chief with a gift?" she asks.

D.O.R.K cannot help but look back and subtly nodded to Ilezneya. "Wise words, and very true. If there's been no direct attacks of late, then certainly word has begun spread about the recent upheaval and the dangers it represents. W-..... Mn.... What I mean to say is this. Stay vigilant if they let us inside. Although we are not to remain here for more than a night, we do not know if any defenses have compromised prior to our arrival." She warns formally as the group continue to close the distance.

(@Grant: Safe to assume as well that by now Dork has been able to attune to Dawnbringer?)

(@Grant: Safe to assume as well that by now Dork has been able to attune to Dawnbringer?)

Yes

As the party approaches the village they can see that the gates are indeed closed and their are several dwarfs peering down on them from the walls. Others are manning the large baliistas that are scattered around the wall. 

Devin looks up at the gates.   "It seems perhaps a bit more than caution at this point.  They look like they are expecting trouble."  He says to the others.

When within hearing range of the gates he calls up,

"Hail and well met!  We are travelers seeking refuge from the road.  A drink at The Falling Orc is what we hope to refresh ourselves.  May we enter?"

As the party gets within hailing range they can clearly see that the ballista are tracking both their movement and that of Harshnag. When they get within hailing range and just before Devin can say anything a gravelly voice yells out "Harshnag is that you?" to this the giant responds "Conall Stoneskin when did you get here from Mirrabar?" Devin then yells out his greeting "Hail and well met!  We are travelers seeking refuge from the road.  A drink at The Falling Orc is what we hope to refresh ourselves.  May we enter?". The voice comes back "any friend of Harshnag is welcome" shortly after you hear his voice again "open the gates" and the gates open. Standing in the gateway is a dwarf dressed in full plate.

Ilezenya will listen silently to the conversation - he was far from home and his heritage was often the cause of some friction with dwarves and gnomes. Still, when crossing through the gate to the town, he can be heard intoning a phrase - "Blessings of the Moonmaiden on this place..."

D.O.R.K is more than content to let others do the talking at the entrance. Even seeing the dwarf seemingly in charge, if not of importance, the construct shows no sign of growing comfort or ease. She would however continue to quietly pilot Golemogote until some party members at least wished to disembarked early for a more up close conversation. Something she does address, but not before calling down to Mullo, "It is unlikely that this fortification is led by a chieftan. Nor should it be necessary to present a gift to their leader. However, if you wish to, then it will be at your own discretion."

Out of curiosity are you planning on walking into a timber village with the portable BBQ

I don't know about Mambo, but Haetone is not entering. She will entertain herself outside until Mullo calls for her.

In response to Dork, Mullo nods. "It will take me a while to learn these new customs," she intones quietly. The closer they get to the gate, the more she hunches forward as if she is ready to defend herself.

(@Grant: Actually, on that subject, Ebonitus asked Mambo in this post if he wanted to stick around or be sent back.) 

Ebonitus has had a discussion with Mambo, and Mambo has decide to stay with us for a while. On the journey, Ebonitus has been training Mambo to understand some hand signals and further developing his control of his flame. Ebonitus calls to the dwarf, "My fiery friend here can be a bit excitable, so I am happy to stay outside, however if you have a forge or like place, he would be at home and willing to help with the fire. Would you care for some assistance there?" He then politely awaits the response.

Devin approaches the dwarf and greets him.   "Greetings I am Devin of Waterdeep.   We are traveling companions of Harshnag.  We've been many days on the road.  Thank you for allowing us entry.  Do you have news of what is happening in this area,  anything unusual or of importance you could pass on? "

At the gates and immediately afterward

After Devin introduces himself and Ebonitus explains why they are being accompanied by a fire elemental, Connal who is surprised to say the least responds grinning at Harshnag “any friend of yon giant is a friend of mine but his propensity for collecting flotsam and jetsam is going to get the better of him one day. As to strange happenings lately a Frost giant accompanied by a bunch of goblins and ogres attacked recently. While we were peppering them with ballista fire, they sent a bunch of bugbears over the back wall looking for a dwarf named ‘The Weevil’ well at least that’s what the last one told us before we nobbled ‘im. Anyway to cut a long story short we drove ‘em off and then went looking for this Weevil to ‘ear ‘is side of the story. We found ‘im working in  Arzastra;s stables. Anyways we ‘;ad a chat with the lad and turns out he’s a piece of work – not sure who was worse The Weevil or the Frost giant what was looking for ‘im. Well Lord Narbeck said he didn’t want ‘im in the village so we chucked ‘im over the wall and outa of the village about a ten-day or so ago. Fortunately for ‘im he landed ‘ead first in a pile of snow. Boy did ‘e curse somen’t bad as he got up – swore all kind’s a revenge on us.”

 Connal then turns to Ebonitus and says “I reckon the guys down the smithy could use ya mate. Suggest you take ‘im to the back gate, wooden buildin’s are a bit close to this gate!” Ebonitus says to the others he’ll meet them in The Falling Orc Inn as he leads Mambo away. Sometime later he rejoins the party and when asked how it went explains that he left Mambo in the middle of the forge fire playing like a kid in a sandpit – in fact he describes it as “he was as happy as a pig in sh*t!

When Ebonitus enters the Inn, he is clearly relieved. "I reckon I could do with a beer." Then he continues to the party., "Any of you heard of this Weevil bloke before? He sounds like a bit of a pest."

D.O.R.K at least is liable to be delayed trying to figure out where to park Golemogote for the night. If need be, she was not unwilling to leave the matter to Harshnag, as the giant likely had his own difficulties or varying set up for moving within the village, if at all. But at the very least her first stop is any stables near the Inn, and attempt to learn from any stable hand available how, if any accommodations can be made for the overlarge beast.

Ilezenya keeps his hood up and sticks with the party, but is friendly if others greet him. At the Fallen Orc, he orders a stone mug of oak-aged whiskey - the darker the better!

In answer to the question about a Weevil, he responds, "I have not heard of this one in any of my travels...and if the frost giant wanted him, it probably means he was an enemy and not an ally. So...will the Weevil have other giant allies who he will bring back for his revenge?"

As D.O.R.K. is settling Golemogote down in one The fallen Orc's stables a large humanoid figure enters the stables - it is fact a half-ogre. She approaches Golemogote completely unafraid and turning to look at D.O.R.K. says "what a wonderful beast." Ever the optimist Golemogote's trunk goes looking in her pockets for a treat. The half-ogre laughs and pulls out two ears of corn which she proffers to the elephant who grabs them.